Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it; ] and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
